“The Geopolitics of East Africa “

with Thomas Mountain

This week, Eric has an in-depth conversation with independent journalist Thomas Mountain. They discuss the current political situation in Ethiopia, grounding the discussion in a historical framework that informs an understanding of the politics of today. Eric and Tom examine the conflict between Ethiopia and Eritrea as well as some of the internal issues in Eritrea such as education, democracy, and poverty reduction. Mountain provides his analysis as someone living in Eritrea and who is familiar not only with the politics of the country, but the daily lives of its citizens. Also, the two break down the imperialist nature of the mission in Somalia and some of the historical background to the continued conflict there. Additionally, Eric and Tom also provide a detailed analysis of the war in Mali and the imperial agendas of France and the US in the region.

Thomas Mountain is the most widely distributed independent journalist in Africa, living and reporting from Eritrea since 2006. His work can be found at intrepidreport.com and his interviews for Press TV and Russia Today are readily available online.

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20 Comments

Thank you for airing Thomas Mountain on such topical issues as the Ethiopian politics. Having said that i would like to remind Mr Thomas to get real and deeper with the issues. you cannot talk about Ethiopia’s political crises by sidelining the principal factor that matters most in any Ethiopian political discussion. That’s the oromo issue; Oromos are the single largest ethnic group in Ethiopia well over 45 percent but without any political power since they were incorporated into Ethiopia through conquest in the 19th century. Ever since they have been fighting for their freedom from occupation. Until and Unless the oromo question for independence is resolved there will be no peace in the Horn of Africa. Next time please raise the oromo issues with Mr Thomas and educate your listeners about the Oromo people and the politics associated with it.

Dear Mr. Eric,
I thank you so much for giving a chance to the voice-less people of Eritrea and its dedicated government indirectly through Mr. Thomas C. Mountain (a perfect eye witness to the current events in Eritrea).
Sir, Eritrea is a country that is struggling to stand on its own feet. And unfortunately, Eritrea, as an African country, is not allowed to do this. Nevertheless, the relentless people of Eritrea are trying to do just that, which is seen as a sin by the US led Western countries. And people like Mr. Thomas C. Mountain and you (Mr. Eric) have a big role to play hereby, i.e: to tell the world the truth as it is.
I would like to thank again Mr. Mountain for his efforts to bring light to the scene and I assure him that the majority of Eritreans (at home or in the diaspora) appreciate what he is doing. It is a great job and please continue this noble deed. All of us have the molar obligation to stand behind the truth in this world of hyenas.
Thank you so much again,
Mulugheta T.
Germany

What a corrupted journalist is He? Bullshit person i ever heard of. This journalist the worst Enemy of Eritrean people and their country. i wounder how much money he took from Dictator I Afwerki to lie to the people of the world.

the Regime of Asiysas afwerki is finishing soon, and don’t talk dirty things in finishing time, for dead Regime.

Thanks to Mr. Thomas Mountain. Serving the truth. we need more journalist like you who are serving the truth in Eritrea. Independent Journalist like you who serve the truth. I Visited Eritrea last July, 2012. I agree with your observation.

for those who never be in Eritrea and to talk about Eritrean people, all I can say is God will Judge you at the end.Go there and see for your self. “Don’t Judge the book by its cover”. Some people are positive for delusion and they need to see psychiatrist.

that is what you are dreaming,but reality on the ground is different than your dream.Agame is part of your tribe you fool.I can see how matured you are with your CHICKEN BRAIN.Thomas Mountain isa great journalist independent.He tells the truth to the ousting Eurepean and American govenments who are living on fabricating lies and spreading around the world.

Thank you so much for presenting Mr. Thomas Mountain in your famous and indeprndent media “Boiling Frogs”. I would also like to thank you Mr. Thomas mountain very much for his boldness to speak out the truth about situations in the horn of Africa. Sooner than later the world would know all that he has said is true. The oppressed people of the horn of Africa, who are oppressed by their puppet regimes who serve American interests at the cost of their nationals are going to have a lasting peace and stability.
Don’t worry about some comments from some Tigrains who are pretending to be Eritreans. Thank you once again.

Could you try to focus thomas Mountain towards the the issues facing the Dictatorship in Eritrea. He seems to go on and on about Bab el Mendeb,Gayle Smith and everything else except the situation in Eritrea. The Eritrean PEOPLE are suffering and you guys are talking about everything but the situation the People find themselves in. Eritreans are constantly persecuted by there government for wanting freedom of speech, freedom of assembly, freedom of religion and Rule of Law. Isaias Afwerki is A DICTATOR…

Since when are they fine. The last time I left the country, 3 months ago,we were still oppressed,forced in to slavery in the name of national service, people being persecuted for their beliefs and opinions,people being detained without legal due process( on the will of one illiterate official),the youth in mass exodus, and the list goes on. No one but the gov of Eritrea under DIA coerced me to flee the country I love.

You´re lying. All the problems Mr. Mountain listed concerning Ethiopia are nonexistent in Eritrea. Lack of electricity, water, medical treatment etc. The suffering you´re talking about is precisely because of the reasons Mr. mountain elaborated. The eritreans are held hostage to satisfy the US´s hegemonic agenda in the HoA. President Isaias is not a dictator but a guardian of the nation. Period! I advise you to worry about your country Ethiopia instead.

IF you want all of that go back to your day dream. Eritreans are enjoying peace and security unlike other nations including western nations. In eritrea crime rate is nearly zero percent, where else in the world can you find such peace. And for the record, there is nothing wrong with dictatorship as long as the person in power service the people as the people should be served. I wish for Isiaias afwerki to remain in power for as long as possible. He is a hero to all true eritreans. sell outs like yourself have been around in eritrean history for a long time now. you people are the same ones who asked your masters to conduct a Libyan style intervention by NATO to kill and destroy Eritrea and the people. May another Gaddafi and isais afwerki be delivered to the continent of Africa and world. If your so interested in eliminating suffering and dictatorship, why dont you eliminated the dictatorship in the wests called “shadow governements” or “corporate dictatorship” or “Capitalism”… your concerned about eritrea when the united states and its allies are destroying lives and the planet each and every second to expand their imperialistic visions. Go to bed and sleep for ever, your a walking zombie anyways.

Thanks for your publications around the globe and your explaination to the people of the planet for the idea and agenda of the imperialism in this context what I can request to you is you good program doesn’t say about eight million people which as already murded by the anglo american imperialism command in the drcongo in the central africa of the great lake because of they are own resources the coltan and the imperialism agenda in eradicating indigenous congolese by arming the impoverished country like uganda nad the rwanda since then I haven’t seen your program in such country which is the congo as the imperialism as installed an illegal government in this rich country in this planet for creating a proxy war of minerals and our population are paying the price for being inhabitant of where this minerals are for such agenda it will be better for them to eradicate all people who are in such environment so that they can exploit the land we as congolese living abroad have taken all kind demonstration but unfortunately the imperialism agenda is now going on could you please voice our concern troughout your media machine. my regard to you thanks.

Thanks for the comment. I spent an entire episode (Ep. 14) discussing the issues in DR Congo with Keith Harmon Snow. We addressed all of the points you raised. Please do check that out and let me know what you think. I appreciate the comment.